Editorial: There's room for more open dialog and public tolerance

They say the unruly behavior and comments of some critics of affordable housing plans warrant Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency in Marin.

Hardly. Sadly, disruptive behavior from the audience at public meetings is not new to either Brown or Marin.

That doesn't mean it should be condoned, and housing advocates' Civic Center press conference underscores the need to allow both sides to voice their opinions. Neither side should control the public's freedom of speech. Neither side should be made to feel intimidated.

John Young, head of Marin Grassroots and one of the leaders of the push to bring greater social equity in Marin's housing and zoning laws, is right to stand up and tell the public that people of color are "very afraid" to participate in public meetings because of the angry rhetoric.

He and others who appeared at the recent press conference spoke from their hearts. They should be respected.

And so should those who are worried that Marin is opening the door to higher-density housing and over-development — the vast majority of whom are polite, respectful and do let others speak.

To be fair, unruly public meetings are not new to Marin. There are bullies on both sides of the housing debate, whether it's people yelling from the back of a meeting room or name-calling and intolerance exhibited in social-media streams.

The press conference came on the heels of a Marinwood forum led by Supervisor Susan Adams, who was interrupted by boos and catcalls from the audience. One speaker worried that large affordable housing plans would create a "ghetto."

The use of that term was unfair and inappropriate.

Housing advocates are asking the governor to step in to stop what they called a "lynch mob" mentality.

It's a broad swipe to paint housing critics with that label, just as it was to claim their opinions are "racist."